Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy inhibits oxyradical injury and improves microcirculation following brain injury

作者：Yang, Huafeng^*; Li, Zhanwen; Shi, Guojun; Ren, Xuanlei; Yang, Ximin

来源：Neural Regeneration Research, 2010, 5(6): 439-444.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2010.06.006

• oxygen therapy
• acupuncture
• brain injury
• malondialdehyde
• superoxide dismutase
• nitric oxide synthase
• hemorheological index

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy combines acupoint theory in traditional Chinese medicine and modem oxygen therapy. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy results in favorable outcomes for brain injury. However, the mechanisms of action remain poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE: To determine pathological changes and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, as well as hemorheological brain alterations following acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy, and to explore possible mechanisms of acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy on brain injury.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Animal Experimental Center of Xi'an Medical University from January 2006 to April 2009.
MATERIALS: An oxygen delivery device, through the use of acupuncture (oxygen delivery machine silver hollowed needle, 0.5 mm inner diameter), was purchased from Research Center of Machine, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in China.
METHODS: A total of 180 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 30): normal, sham-surgery (dura mater exposure), model (brain injury induced by free-falling of heavy object to head), Xiantai mixture (0.417 mL/100 g following brain injury), electroacupuncture [acupuncture at Baihui (DU 20), Housanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) following brain injury], and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy (oxygen delivery through hollowed needle to Baihui (DU 20), Housanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) following brain injury, 0.01 mL/minute). Group intervention was performed once a day for 14 consecutive days.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pathological changes, MDA content, SOD and NOS activity, and hemorheological alterations in the brain.
RESULTS: Obvious pathological changes were observed, such as hemorrhage, edema, and cell necrosis, following brain injury. These alterations were significantly improved following 14 days of treatment with Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy. In particular, acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in recovery to normal conditions. In the Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy groups, MDA content was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), SOD activity was significantly increased (P < 0.01), NOS activity was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and hemorheological indices were reduced, compared with the model group. In particular, acupunture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in the most obvious changes (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy improved pathological changes following brain injury by possibly improving blood supply, ameliorating ischemia/hypoxia, and inhibiting peroxidation and free radicals.

• 出版日期2010-3-30
• 单位南方医科大学